UK study: Neurodiverse workers get 90% more value from AI than neurotypical colleagues

A UK government study reveals that neurodiverse employees derive significantly more benefit from AI tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot than their neurotypical colleagues, with 90% higher satisfaction rates and 95% greater likelihood to recommend the technology. This finding suggests AI’s most transformative impact may lie in accessibility rather than general productivity gains, potentially revolutionizing workplace inclusion for millions of people with disabilities.

What you should know: The UK Department for Business and Trade study found that while overall Copilot satisfaction was 72%, neurodiverse employees reported statistically higher satisfaction and recommendation rates.

• Out of 1,000 licenses distributed to government employees, 300 participants consented to analysis between October 2024 and March 2025.
• The study used diary studies, interviews, and observed tasks to measure AI assistant effectiveness across different user groups.
• Traditional productivity gains remained marginal, but accessibility benefits proved substantial and often irreplaceable.

What they’re saying: Participants with disabilities described AI as providing essential workplace support that traditional accommodations couldn’t match.

• “It’s leveled the playing field,” one participant with ADHD told researchers during follow-up interviews.
• A user with dyslexia said the tool “empowered” them to perform tasks with confidence they previously lacked, particularly in report writing.
• Another dyslexic participant noted that Copilot “does a hell of a lot more” than traditional assistive technology while being “embedded in your applications.”
• A hearing-disabled user explained: “I can very quickly recall and be able to share my inputs rather than sit quietly thinking I missed the point.”

Why this matters: AI tools may be addressing workplace accessibility gaps that traditional accommodations have missed entirely.

• The difference between writing a report 20% faster and being able to write a report at all represents two entirely different value propositions.
• For accessibility, AI doesn’t need to be perfect—it just needs to bridge gaps that would otherwise exclude people entirely.
• AI language tools may be providing unofficial, stealth accommodations for students without requiring formal diagnosis, workplace disclosure, or special equipment.

How it helps different disabilities: Various conditions benefit from AI assistance in distinct ways that go beyond traditional productivity tools.

• People with dyslexia can use AI as writing aids that help with sentence structure and organizing thoughts beyond traditional spell-checkers.
• ADHD users report AI serves as executive function support, helping break down complex tasks and organize scattered thoughts.
• Visual impairment users can leverage language models to summarize visual content and reformat information.
• Tools like ChatGPT’s voice mode with video and Be My Eyes allow machines to describe real-world visual scenes.

Proceed with caution: The technology’s limitations pose particular risks for users who depend on it for essential support.

• The UK study found 22% of users identified false information in AI outputs, which could be especially harmful for those relying on AI for accessibility.
• A 2025 study on students with disabilities using generative AI found “key concerns students with disabilities had included the inaccuracy of AI answers, risks to academic integrity, and subscription cost barriers.”
• Research shows people develop complex and sometimes flawed mental models of how AI tools work, highlighting the need for better public awareness of limitations.

The big picture: When the UK pilot ended in December 2024, many participants—particularly those with disabilities—reported difficulty readjusting to work without AI assistance, suggesting accessibility may be AI’s first application with irreplaceable value rather than just incremental improvement.